Celtic 4-1 St Johnstone (24/12/22) | Saints and winners in festive Paradise treat

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Doubles form the Japanese combination of Kyogo and Reo Hatate put the Celts well in command, and a consolation goal from Drey Wright did little to stem the festive fervour at Paradise.
A scintillating first-half performance with Aaron Mooy in impeccable form and running the show saw the Celts speed to a 3-0 lead at the break with move after move deserving of a goal.
The opener came in the 14th minute and any pre-match worries about Reo Hatate operating in the right-back berth dissolved after a sweeping move.
Daizen Maeda surged down the left and his low cross was dummied by James Forrest expecting an on-running team-mate but the ball was cleared by the St Johnstone defence although not magnificently. The ball fell to Mooy who set up Hatate and he fired home the first goal of the game.
Just four minutes later, the Celts were 2-0 in front, with once more the move having hits roots on the left wing where Greg Taylor found Matt O’Riley and his low cross was met by a cheeky flick from Kyogo as he steered the ball home to put the Celts fully in command.
Not long before the break, it was 3-0, and it was that man Kyogo again when a wonderful ball from Mooy found Forrest on the right wing and his precise cross was met by the Japanese striker who made no mistake in front of goal.
The second half was only seven minutes old when Hatate fired in his second of the game to make it 4-0. Once more the Celtic frontline sliced their way through the St Johnstone defence with some slick football and the move ended with a gentle tap to Hatate by skipper, Callum McGregor and the Japanese temporary right-back swept the ball home through the keeper’s lege.
The visitors pulled one back after a VAR check when Stevie May just managed to stay onside and Joe Hart had a wonderful double save, first from May, then from Wright, but he could do nothing about Wright’s second bite of the cherry as his shot took the score to 4-1.
Hatate almost notched his hat-trick from the right-back position following a one-two between Giorgos Giakoumakis and Liel Abada before the Israeli put the Japanese Celt through. However, his shot from inside the box came off the base of the post.
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[@Daza_1888]

Great game good to see Ange back and jota

[@elflakeador09]

Ah the good old days 😏

[@MKB1312]

5:48 at their goal look how much hes onside and the lineman tried to give offside and hes also not even looking at the player who ran onto the ball who he called offside. that's crazy 🤣

[@daniel_fn15]

I was here!

[@benzym]

Is this to soften the blow that’s about to come at 3pm

[@lebronjamesonfifa9490]

I was there it was soo fun

[@m.k.s.7417]

I hope, that: the "bhoys"; can do it, all over again. Come on lads; you CAN: Do it!!

[@sprinkleshamham1950]

Hail hail

[@GRFC1872]

Brenda we hired you and warned you do not be as obvious as when we hired Shane Duffy ,mate make it look realistic 🔴⚪️🔵

[@BBB-mn8ko]

Cant beat st johnstone at home quick post a time we did beat them to distract them hahaha 56 incoming you lot are getting battered next week! 😂 🇬🇧

[@lougou]

Watching this makes me want jota back 😢